Bags



29, 1961 w. P. CONWAY ET AL 2,998,340

BAGS

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1957 1961 w. P. CONWAY ET AL 2,998,340

BAGS

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1957 1961 w. P. CONWAY ET AL 2,998,340

BAGS

Filed April 4, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO. FIG. I I. FIG. l2.

123 M BQ 4 l 1 133 I35 I l 1" 'T "H 13/ MAE} 1 5 Ma Ma @oyx,

Patented Aug. 29, 1961 soul-i Filed Apr. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 650,646 16Claims. (Cl. 154-116) This invention relates to bags, and moreparticularly to methods of making bags for holding liquid or semiliquidmaterials having an integral spout.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofmethods of making bags for holding liquid or semiliquid which are formedto have an integral spout facilitating the filling of the bag and theemptying of the filled bag (one example being a plastic bag for holdingmilk); the provision of methods for economically manufacturing the bagsin quantity production; and the provision of methods of making bags ofthis class which are especially suitable for use where sanitation isimportant, as in packing milk. Other objects and features will be inpart apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the methods hereinafter described,the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a View in plan illustrating a first mode of this invention formanufacturing spout bags;

FIG. 2 is a view in plan illustrating one of the bags formed accordingto FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in plan showing the FIG. 2 bag with the end of thespout clipped off and a filling tube inserted for filling the bag;

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustrating the bag partially filled;

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustrating the bag completely filled and thespout resealed;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective showing the assembly of the filled bagof FIG. 5 with a carton to make a package including the bag;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the completed package;

FIG. 9 is a perspective showing how the carton may be opened forwithdnawal of the spout of the bag;

FIGS. 10-13 are views similar to FIG. 1 illustrating alternative modesof this invention for manufacturing bags; and,

FIG. 14 is a view in plan of a bag made according to FIG. 13.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a method of this inventionfor forming a first type of bag. As shown therein, bags are formed in acontinuous process from a continuous tube 1 of flexible heat-scalablesheet plastic material such as polyethylene. This tube is shown as aflat seamless tube made, for example, in a wellknown manner by extrudingpolyethylene around a bubble of air. In the extrusion process, measuresmay be taken to assure that the interior surface of the tube isuncontaminated. For example, the air in the bubble may be decontaminatedso that it is sterile. Or the tube, as it is extruded, may be subjectedto ultraviolet light, or both. The leading end of the tube is sealedoff, and when extrusion of the entire tube is completed, its trailingend is sealed off. This assures sterility of the interior surface of thetube until it is converted into spout bags in accordance with one methodof this invention.

The tube 1 is segmented into individual sealed bags 3 by heat-sealingtogether the walls of the tube on lines 5 and 7 extending completelyacross the tube and segmenting the tube on a line 9 between the lines orseals 5 and 7. The seals 5 and 7 are liquid-tight pressure seals.Adjacent each seal 7, the tube is slit as indicated at 11 on a lineextending inward from one edge of the tube and terminating short of theother edge of the tube, and the walls of the tube are heat-sealedtogether all around the slit as generally indicated at 13. The heat sealaround the slit 11 is a liquid-tight pressure seal. This may be carriedout by making a narrow U-shaped pressure seal and slitting between thesides of the U (but not slitting the end of the U). Or it may be carriedout by making a relatively wide pressure seal, and slitting along thecenter line of the wide pressure seal almost but not quite to the end ofthe pressure seal. In any event, the seal at 13 includes two sideportions 15 and 17 on opposite sides of the slit 11 and end portion 19connecting side portions 15 and 17 around the inner end of the slit 11.

As to each of the bags 3 (see FIG. 2) segmented from the tube 1 as abovedescribed, the seal 5 constitutes a closure for one end of the bag, andthe seal 15 (which lies on the side of the slit 11 toward seal 5)constitutes a closure for the other end of the bag. The portion of thetube bounded by seals 17 and 7 constitutes a spout 21 and there is a gapat 23 (between portion 19 of the seal 13 and the adjacent edge of thetube) to provide an opening from the bag proper into the spout 21. Theend of the spout, indicated at 25, is closed, being constituted by aportion of the edge of the tube.

The sealing, segmenting and slitting of the tube may e carried out byany of conventional well-known means for the purpose, the operationsbeing such that each bag is sealed at 5 and 7 before the segmentingoccurs on line 9, and sealed at 13 before being slit at 11. This, inaddition to the fact that the operations are carried out on the tube inthe flat, assures that the interior surface of each bag remains sterile.

The tube 1, instead of being initially cut completely through on lines 9and 11, may be perforated to provide lines of weakness at 9 and 11 sothat the tube, with the lines of weakness at 9 and 11 and the seals at5, 7 and 13, may be wound into a roll, and individual bags 3 tom oifone-by-one and the spouts torn loose at a later time, as when fillingthe bags.

While the tube 1 is shown as a seamless tube, it will be understood thatit may be a tube consisting of a single web of sheet plastic materialformed into a tube having a longitudinal heat-sealed seam, or it may bea tube consisting of two superposed webs of sheet plastic materialhaving longitudinal heat-sealed seams at the side margins. Also, whilethe tube 1 is described above as a heat-sealable sheet plastic tube suchas polyethylene, it will be understood that the tube may consistessentially of a non-heat-sealing material such as cellophane having aheat-sealing coating thereon, or multi-ply material the inner ply ofwhich is a heat-scalable material. The term heat-scalable is intended toapply to such materials. The tube may even be made from a web of paper,for example, which may be specially treated to be liquidproof, in whichcase the seals may be made by means of suitable adhesive applied as theweb is being formed into the tube.

To fill a bag 3, the end of the spout 21 is cut off or pierced, the bagis held in position with the spout extending upward and a filling tube Fis inserted in the spout, as illustrated in FIG. 3. These operations maybe carried out in the presence of a sterile gas or under ultravioletlight, or both, to insure sanitation. As the liquid (milk, for example)is delivered into the bag, the bag expands from its FIG. 3 flatcondition. The bag, in its original flat condition, is virtually devoidof air, hence there is no displacement of air from within the bag by theliquid in the filling operation. As the bag is filled, ear-likeformations develop at its corners. When the bag has been partly filled,the ear-like formation at the heel of the spout may be flattened out andfolded over away from the spout as indicated at 27, and secured infolded-over position as by means of a piece of pressuresensitiveadhesive tape 29, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the bag has been completely filled, i.e., when the bag has receiveda volume of liquid equal to either the volume of the bag in its fullyexpanded state or the volume of a container in which it is to be packed,the filling tube F is withdrawn and the end of the spout is rescaled. Asshown in FIG. 5, rescaling is accomplished by heat-sealing the end ofthe spout as indicated at 31.

It will be understood that the end of the spout may be rescaled bypinching it closed with a suitable type of clamp or other suitablemeans. Also as shown in FIG. 5, the filled bag is of generallyrectangular pillow-shaped form. The spout 21 extends from one end of thewall 33 of the filled bag to the other. The wall of the filled bagopposite wall 33 is designated 35. The side walls of the filled bag areeach designated 37. The remaining two walls of the bag are eachdesignated 39. As shown in FIGS. and 6, the ear-like formations at thethree corners of the bag other than the corner at the heel of the spoutmay be flattened out and folded over as indicated at 41 and secured infolded-over position as by means of pieces of tape 29.

To empty the bag, it is simply necessary to cut oif or pierce the end ofthe spout 21. The bag collapses under atmospheric pressure, and theliquid runs out through the spout.

The bag 3 may be used by itself or it may be packed in an outercontainer such as another bag (for example, in a multiwall paper bag),or a carton (for example, a corrugated fiberboard carton). It isparticularly useful, for example, in making up a carton-type package asillustrated in FIG. 6. This package (designated in its entirety by thereference character P) comprises a rectangular carton 43 made, forexample, of double-faced corrugated fiberboard. The double-facedcorrugated board comprises a corrugated layer 45 and facing layers 47and 49 (see FIG. 7). FIG. 6 shows the carton erected and open at the topfor receiving a filled bag 3. The bottom panel of the carton, as shownin FIG. 6, is designated 51, its side panels are each designated 53, andits end panels are designated 55 and 57. Flaps for closing the cartonare indicated at 59 and 61. In one end panel (end panel 55 as shown)both facing layers of the corrugated board are cut through on linesindicated at 63 and 65 to provide a rip-out portion 67 in this end panelwhich extends centrally from one end of the panel toward the other. Thewidth of this rip-out portion is somewhat greater than the diameter ofthe filled bag spout 21. The lines 63 and 65 extend crosswise of thecorrugations of the corrugated layer 45 of the double-faced board. Thelines 63 and 65 are shown as flared out at the bottom end of the panel55. Lines 63 and 65 extend slightly into the bottom panel 51 and endpanel 55 is cut all the way through on a line 69 extending between theends of lines 63 and 65 adjacent the upper end of panel 55 to provide anend of the rip-out portion 67 for grasping and pulling to rip it out ofthe panel 55.

A filled bag is placed in the carton with the spout 21 of the bagextending upward along the rip-out portion 67 of the end panel 55 of thecarton, and with the free end of the spout coming into position adjacentthe end of the rip-out portion at line 69. Prior to inserting the filledbag in the carton, a strip of adhesive 71 (such as a latex adhesive) isapplied to the inside of end panel 57 of the carton extending centrallyof the panel 57 from near one end thereof to near the other. Thisadheres the wall of the bag to the panel 57 of the carton. Finally, theflaps 59 and 61 are closed and secured by gummed tape 73.

The carton is dimensioned so that the filled bag has a close fittherein. Consequently, the carton walls act to take the hydrostaticpressure of the liquid in the filled bag and relieve the bag of strain.To dispense the liquid from the bag in the carton, the rip-out portion67 of the end panel of the carton is ripped out as shown in dotted linesin FIG. 9, the spout 21 is pulled out through the resultant opening inthe panel 55 of the carton, and the end of the spout clipped off orpierced to allow the liquid to pour out through the spout. The bagcollapses under atmospheric pressure as the liquid runs out and, due tothe securement of the top of the bag to the top of the carton byadhesive 71, the bag collapses completely for complete emptying of thebag.

As shown in FIG. 1, the closure seals 5 and 7, the lines of segmentation9, the slits 11 and the seals 13 are at right angles to the side edgesof the tube, so that the spout of each bag is at right angles to theside edges of the tube. FIG. 10 shows a variation in which the spout isformed to the oblique with respect to the side edges of the tube. Inthis case, the walls of the tube are heat-sealed together at double baglength intervals on lines and 77 extending completely across the tube atright angles to the side edges of the tube, and segmented on a line 79between the lines or seals 75 and 77. Intermediate the successivesealings and segmentations at 75, 77 and 79, the walls of the tube areheat-sealed together on lines 81 and 83 extending completely across thetube which are oblique with respect to the side edges of the tube, andsegmented on a line 85 between the lines or seals 81 and 83. On one sideof the group of lines 81, 83 and 85, adjacent the line 81, the tube isslit as indicated at 87 on a line extending inward from one edge of thetube and terminating short of the other edge of the tube, and the wallsof the tube are heat-sealed together all around the slit as indicated at89. The slit 89 is oblique with respect to the side edges of the tube,being parallel to the lines 81, 83 and 85. On the other side of thegroup of lines 81, 83 and 85, adjacent each line 83 the tube is slit asindicated at 91 on a line extending inward from the other edge of thetube and terminating short of the said one edge of the tube, and thewalls of the tube are heat-sealed together all around the slit asindicated at 93. The slit 91 is oblique with the side edges of the tube,being parallel to the lines 81, 83 and 85. Accordingly, the portions ofthe tube between successive groups of lines 81, 83 and 85 is segmentedinto two identical bags, each having an oblique spout. It will also beunderstood that lines 81, 83 and 85, instead of being oblique, may be atright angles to the side edges of the tube, in which case the spout willbe tapered.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show methods of this invention for making bags from atube 1a having twice the desired width for the bags. In each case, thetube has its walls heat-sealed together on two longitudinal lines 95 and97 which lie on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line L of thetube, and it is slit between these lines or seals 95 and 97 along itslongitudinal center line as indicated at 99. In each case, the walls ofthe tube are heatsealed together on lines and 107 extending completelyacross the tube (corresponding to lines 5 and 7 of FIG. 1) and segmentedon a line 109 (corresponding to the line 9 of FIG. 1) between the linesor seals 105 and 107. In FIG. 11, the spouts are shown as being formedby making a slit 111 adjacent each seal 107 on a transverse line whichextends from near one side edge of the double-width tube 1a to near theother side edge of the tube, and heat-sealing the walls of the tubetogether all around the slit as indicated at 113. In FIG. 12, the spoutsare shown as being formed by slitting the double width tube 1a adjacenteach seal 107 on two lines 115 extending inward from the side edges ofthe tube and terminating short of the longitudinal center line of thetube, and heat-sealing the walls of the tube together all around theslits 115 as indicated at 117.

FIG. 13 shows another method of this invention for forming another typeof bag, a single bag being shown in FIG. 14. As illustrated in FIG. 13,bags 123 are formed from a continuous tube 1 of heat-scalable sheetplastic material such as polyethylene, the same as in FIG. 1. The wallsof the tube 1 are heat-sealed together at double-length bag intervals onlines 125 and 127 extending completely across the tube, and the tube issegmented on a line 129 between the lines 125 and 127. Midway betweensuccessive groups of lines 125, 127 and 129, the walls of the tube areheat-sealed together on spaced transverse lines 131 and 133 which extendfrom near one side edge of the tube to near the other side edge of thetube, and segmented on a line 135 between the lines 131 and 133. TheWalls are also heat-sealed together on spaced longitudinal lines 137 and139 extending longitudinally in one direction from one end of lines 131and 133 to a first group of lines 125, 127 and 129, and segmented on aline 141 between the lines 137 and 139. The walls are also heat-sealedtogether on spaced longitudinal lines 143 and 145 extendinglongitudinally in the opposite direction from the other end of lines 131and 133 to a second group of lines 125, 127 and 129, and segmented on aline 147 between the lines 143 and 145. This divides the tube intoindividual bags having a closure at one end constituted by the seam 125or 127, as the case may be, closed at the other end by a seam 131 or133, as the case may be, and having a spout extending at right angles toone end of the bag constituted by a side edge of the tube and a seam 137or 145, as the case may be.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above methods without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. The method of making bags with each bag having aspout, comprising thesteps of sealing and segmenting a continuous tube of bag material at baglength intervals on lines extending completely across the tube and,adjacent but spaced from the seal at one end of each bag length,slitting the tube on a line extending inward from one edge of the tubeand terminating short of the other edge of the tube and sealing togetherthe walls of the tube all around the slit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tube is heatsealable and thesea-ling is accomplished by heat and pressure.

3. The method of making bags with each bag having a spout, comprisingthe steps of sealing and segmenting a continuous tube of bag material atdouble bag length intervals on transverse lines extending completelyacross the tube, and sealing and segmenting the tube on transverse linesextending partially across the tube from near one side edge of the tubeto near the other side edge of the tube midway between said intervals,and on lines extending longitudinally in one direction from one end ofsaid partial transverse lines to a first group of said completetransverse lines, and on lines extending longitudinally in the oppositedirection from the other end of said partial transverse lines to asecond group of said complete transverse lines.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the tube is heatsealable and thesealing is accomplished by heat and pressure.

5. The method of making spout bags from a continuous flattened tube ofbag material, comprising sealing together the walls of the tube to forma first transverse seal along a first line extending completely acrossthe tube from one side of the tube to the other and segmenting the wallsof the tube on a first line of segmentation extending completely acrossthe tube adjacent and on one side of said first transverse seal, sealingtogether the walls of the tube to form a second transverse seal along asecond line extending completely across the tube from one side of thetube to the other spaced longitudinally of the tube from said firstlines and located on the opposite side of said first transverse sealfrom said first line of segmentation and segmenting the walls of thetube on a second line of segmentation extending completely across thetube adjacent said second transverse seal and on the side of said secondtransverse seal opposite the first transverse seal, separating the wallsof the tube on a line extending inward from one side edge of the tubeadjacent but spaced from one of said transverse seals and terminatingshort of the other side edge of the tube and sealing together the wallsof the tube all around the line of separation, thereby to segment fromthe tube a bag having walls constituted by portions of the original tubewalls joined at two opposite edges thereof where vthe original tubewalls were joined at the sides of the tube, joined along another edgethereof by the other of said transverse seals, and having a spoutconstituted by the portions of the tube walls between the said onetransverse seal and said line of separation, and repeating the operationto segment additional spout bags from the tube.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the tube is heatsealable and thesealing is accomplished by heat and pressure.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the walls of the tube are separated onsaid line of separation by slitting, the walls being heat-sealedtogether all around the slit.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein all of said lines are at right anglesto the length of the tube.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said line of separation is oblique withrespect to the length of the tube.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the said other transverse seal is atright angles to the length of the tube and said one transverse seal andsaid line of separation are oblique with respect to the length of thetube.

11. The method of making spout bags from a continuous flattened tube ofbag material having twice the width of the bags to be made, comprisingsealing together the walls of the tube on longitudinal seals lying onopposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the tube and slittingthe tube on its longitudinal center line between said longitudinalseals, sealing together the walls of the tube to form a first transverseseal along a first line extending completely across the tube from oneside of the tube to the other and segmenting the walls of the tube on afirst line of segmentation extending completely across the tube adjacentand on one side of said first transverse seal, sealing together thewalls of the tube to form a second transverse seal along a second lineextending completely across the tube from one side of the tube to theother spaced longitudinally of the tube from said first lines andlocated on the opposite side of said first transverse seal from saidfirst line of segmentation and segmenting the walls of the tube on asecond line of segmentation extending completely across the tubeadjacent said second transverse seal and on the side of said secondtransverse seal opposite the first transverse seal, separating the wallsof the tube on a line located adjacent but spaced from one of saidtransverse seals and extending from near one side of the tube across thelongitudinal center line of the tube to near the other side of the tubeand sealing together the walls of the tube all around the line ofseparation, thereby to segment from the tube two bags each having wallsconstituted by portions of the original tube walls joined at one edgewhere the original tube walls were joined at one side, at the oppositeedge by one of said longitudinal seals, at another edge by thev other ofsaid, transverse seals, and, having a, spout.v

constituted by portions. of the tubewalls, between the said one.transverse seal and said line, of separation, and repeating theoperation to. segment additional spout bags from the tube.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tube is heat,- sealable and thesealing is accomplished by heat and pressure.

13. The method of making spout bags from a continuous flattened tube ofbag material having twice the width of the bags to be made, comprisingsealing together the walls of the tube on longitudinal seals lying onopposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the tube and slittingthe tube on its longitudinal center line between said longitudinalseals, sealing together the Walls of the tube to form a first transverseseal along a first line extending completely across the tube from oneside of the tube to the other and segmenting the walls of the tube on afirst line of segmentation extending completely across the tube adjacentand on one side of said first transverse seal, sealing together thewalls of the tube to form a second transverse seal along a second lineextending completely across the tube from one side of the tube to theother spaced longitudinally of the tube from said first lines andlocated on the opposite side of said first transverse seal from saidfirst line of segmentation and segmenting the walls of the tube on asecond line of segmentation extending completely across the tubeadjacent said second transverse seal and on the side of said secondtransverse seal opposite the first transverse seal, separating the wallsof the tube on lines located adjacent but spaced from one of saidtransverse seals extending inward from the sides of the tube andterminating short of the said longitudinal seals and sealing togetherthe Walls of the tube all around said lines of separation, thereby tosegment from the tube two bags each having walls constituted by portionsof the original tube walls joined at one edge where the original tubewalls. were joined at one side, at the opposite edge by one of saidlongitudinal seals, at another edge by the other of said transverseseals, and, having a spout constituted by portions of the tube Wallsbetween the said one transverse seal and one of said lines ofseparation, and repeating the operation to segment additional spout bagsfrom the tube.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the tube is heatsealable and thesealing is accomplished by heat and pressure.

15. The method of making spout bags-from a continuous flattened tube ofbag material having a width exceeding the width of the bags to be madeby an amotrnt correspending to the width ofthe spouts on the bags,comprisingv sealing: together the walls of the tube to form a firsttransverse seal along a first line extending completely across the tubefrom one side of the tube to the other and segmenting the walls of thetube on a first line of segmentation extending completely across thetube adjacent and on one side of said first transverse seal, sealingtogether the walls of the tube to form a second transverse seal along asecond line extending completely across the tube from one side of thetube to the other spaced longitudinally of the tube irom said firstlines and located on the opposite side of said first transverse sealfrom said first line of segmentation and segmenting the Walls of thetube on a second line of segmentation extending completely across thetube adjacent said second transverse seal and on the side of said secondtransverse seal opposite the first transverse seal, severing the wallsof the tube on a third transverse line extending only partially acrossthe tube midway between said first and second transverse seals from apoint spaced the spout width from one side of the tube to a point spacedthe spout width from the other Side of the tube, also severing the wallsof the tube on a longitudinal line extending from one end of said thirdtransverse line to said first line of segmentation and on a longitudinalline extending from the other end of said third transverse line to saidsecond line of segmentation, and sealing together the walls of the tubeon opposite sides of said third transverse line and said longitudinalseverance lines, thereby to segment from the tube two bags each having along narrow spout extending endwise from one corner thereof, andrepeating the operation to segment additional spout bags from the tube.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the tube is heatsealable and thescaling is accomplished by heat and pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,103,389 Salfisberg Dec. 28, 1937 2,195,740 Salfisberg Apr. 2, 19402,347,439 Shea Apr. 25, 1944 2,436,061 Waters Feb. 17, 1948 2,446,308Smith Aug. 3, 1948 2,496,753 Salfisberg 'Feb. 7, 1950 2,541,674 SnyderFeb. 13, 1951 2,707,581 Kapl-an et a]. May 3, 1955 2,707,985 Binnall May10, 1955 2,737,860 Randall Mar. 13, 1956 2,789,728 Britton Apr. 23, 19572,866,488 Thompson Dec. 30, 1958

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING BAGS WITH EACH BAG HAVING A SPOUT, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SEALING AND SEGMENTING A CONTINUOUS TUBE OF BAG MATERIAL AT BAG LENGTH INTERVALS ON LINES EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS THE TUBE AND, ADJACENT BUT SPACED FROM THE SEAL AT ONE END OF EACH BAG LENGTH, SLITTING THE TUBE ON A LINE EXTENDING INWARD FROM ONE EDGE OF THE TUBE AND TERMINATING SHORT OF THE OTHER EDGE OF THE TUBE AND SEALING TOGETHER THE WALLS OF THE TUBE ALL AROUND THE SLIT. 